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A small example of the culture of malice

It’s been there since Bush took office. We’ve seen some of its virulence in the last couple days with the attacks on Congressman John Murtha. Yet this week also offered insight into the level of pettiness to which Republican leadership will go in their malice for and hostility toward anyone who might dare think differently or disagree.

The U.S. Senate leadership refused to bring to the floor a resolution, introduced by Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Jon Corzine of New Jersey, honoring Bruce Springsteen’s career and the 30th anniversary of the release of Born to Run. Seems they can’t forgive Springsteen for actually speaking his mind during the last presidential campaign. God forbid an American artist actually exercise freedom of speech.

In the scheme of things, this is a minor and essentially irrelevant deal — except for what it reveals about the mindset of the Republican leadership. Dozens of such resolutions are approved each year and, as Lautenberg’s office said, usually by unanimous consent. Already this year the Senate has passed such momentous measures as Senate Majority leader Bill Frist’s own resolution commending a college women’s basketball coach in his home state “for three decades of excellence as a proven leader, motivated teacher, and established champion.” Evidently, she never said anything bad about Bush so her resolution could get on the calendar.